10/26/2024 | Alisha Alexander | Assistant Athletic Director-Sports Information
CRETE, Neb. – The No. 15 LC State Women’s Cross Country team excelled on a big stage to close out the regular season on Saturday. The Warriors earned a fifth-place finish at the Blazing Tiger Classic in a 6k field that featured 27 NAIA teams.
Damaris Kibiwot continued the momentum she has built with a personal-best of nearly 50 seconds. Grace Tiegs also placed in the top 25 in the solid showing for LC State.
“Very pleased with our performance today,” Head Coach Mike Collins said. “I was honestly a bit nervous going in as I know we raced hard last week and had a short week with travel. That always seems to make you a little bit tired, so to come out and perform like we did today was a nice outcome for us. This should hopefully solidify us in the top 20 in the rankings based on who we beat. Now we need to start looking ahead to conference and holding our own there and earning our spot in the national field.”
Kibiwot was the first Warrior to cross the line, doing so in 14th place. She ran a PR of 22:30.0 which is the fastest by an LC State runner at that distance this season. Tiegs finished 23rd with her personal-best time of 22:49.4. Both were honored at the meet for placing in the top 25 of the 303-person field.
Freshman Lily Bennett crossed the line 52nd with a time of 23:26.2, and Camille Ussher was 67th (23:48.2). Senior Abigail Shumaker wrapped up the top five for LC State in 71st (23.51.7).
In her first action at a 6k distance, Mercy Cherono finished 138th with a time of 24:49.5. Senior Grace McCormick ran a personal-best time of 24:52.5 to place 141st and Leila Flannery was 203rd (25:59.2) in her first 6k. Haileyann Johnson capped the group in 282nd (28:33.9).
UP NEXT
With the regular season in the rearview, the Warriors turn their attention to the Cascade Conference Championships. The conference meet is set for Nov. 8 in Portland.
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